How to Start a Local or Online Multiplayer Game (Splatoon 3)
In this article, you’ll learn how to set up a multiplayer game in Splatoon 3.
Note:
The multiplayer modes in Splatoon 3 require that each player has their own Nintendo Switch console and copy of the game. Split-screen multiplayer is not available.
Information:
The available multiplayer modes depend on how many players you intend to play with and how you intend to connect with them.
| Group Size (Method) | Regular Battle | Anarchy Battle (Series) | Anarchy Battle (Open) | Private Battle | Salmon Run |
| Playing alone (online) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| 2-4 players (online) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 5-10 players (online) | No | No | No | Yes* | No |
| 2-8 players (local wireless) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes** |
| 2-10 players (LAN) | No | No | No | Yes* | Yes** |
*When playing with more than 8 players, any additional players must be spectators.
**A maximum of four players can join one Salmon Run game.
What to do
Which game mode do you want to play?
Regular BattleAnarchy Battle (Series)Anarchy Battle (Open)Private BattleSalmon Run
Work together with a random team to get multiple wins. Game modes rotate between Splat Zones, Tower Control, Rainmaker and Clam Blitz. A single series will continue until you have won five times or lost three times.
- From the square in Splatsville, press the X Button to bring up the menu, then select Lobby in the Map section.
- Walk into the battle pot (next to the lobby terminal).
- Select Anarchy Battle (Series).
- The console will search for other players. Once 8 players have joined, the battle will begin!
Play alone or in a group of 2-4 players. Game modes rotate between Splat Zones, Tower Control, Rainmaker and Clam Blitz.
To start your own game
- From the square in Splatsville, press the X Button to bring up the menu, then select Lobby in the Map section.
- Walk into the battle pot (next to the lobby terminal).
- Toggle the group settings between Solo and With Friends using the left and right directions on the Left Stick.
- Select Anarchy Battle (Open). If playing with friends, you can create a room for others to join by pressing the Y Button.
- Once all players are ready, the console will search for other players. Once 8 players have joined, the battle will begin!
To join another player’s game
- From the square in Splatsville, press the X Button to bring up the menu, then select Lobby in the Map section.
- Walk into the battle pot (next to the lobby terminal).
- Toggle the group settings to With Friends using the Left Stick.
- Select Anarchy Battle (Open), then select a room set up by a friend.
- Once all players are ready, the console will search for other players. Once 8 players have joined, the battle will begin!
- Online friends will also appear as ghosts in the lobby. If a friend is looking for additional players, you can Drop In to participate in their next battle, or Join their open room. Note that if you choose to drop in, you may not play on the same team as your friend.
Play Turf War with players from all over the world.
To start your own game
- From the square in Splatsville, press the X Button to bring up the menu, then select Lobby in the Map section.
- Walk into the battle pot (next to the lobby terminal).
- Toggle the group settings between Solo and With Friends using the left and right directions on the Left Stick.
- Select Regular Battle. If playing with friends, you can create a room for others to join by pressing the Y Button.
- Once all players are ready, the console will search for other players. Once 8 players have joined, the battle will begin!
To join another player’s game
- From the square in Splatsville, press the X Button to bring up the menu, then select Lobby in the Map section.
- Walk into the battle pot (next to the lobby terminal).
- Toggle the group settings to With Friends using the Left Stick.
- Select Regular Battle, then select a room set up by a friend.
- Once all players are ready, the console will search for other players. Once 8 players have joined, the battle will begin!
- Online friends will also appear as ghosts in the lobby. If a friend is looking for additional players, you can Drop In to participate in their next battle, or Join their open room. Note that if you choose to drop in, you may not play on the same team as your friend.
Set the mode, stage and teams in an online or local battle with friends. Up to 8 people can join as players. When playing online or with a LAN connection, one to two additional spectators can join.
Are you playing with friends online, via local wireless or via LAN?
- From the square in Splatsville, press the X Button to bring up the menu, then select Lobby in the Map section.
- Walk into the battle pot (next to the lobby terminal).
- Select Private Battle.
- One player (player 1) needs to create a room for the others to join:
- Have player 1 press the Y Button (Create a Room).
- Choose Yeah! to continue without a password, or press the Y Button to set a password for the room. (The password option requires that you create and share a 3-digit PIN with anyone who wants to join the room.)
- Use the options on the left side of the screen to adjust the stage and mode as desired.
- Once the room is created, all other players need to join the room.
- Player 1’s name should now say Joinable in the Private Battle screen. Select the name.
- If player 1 has set a PIN to join, enter the 3-digit code when prompted.
- Select Yeah! to enter player 1’s room.
- When all players are in the room, have player 1 select Ready!
- Have player 1 select a team for each player, then select Looks Good!
- Have each player select Ready! again to begin the match.
- From the square in Splatsville, press the X Button to bring up the menu, then select The Shoal in the Map section.
- One player (player 1) needs to create the room.
- Have player 1 create a room for a Private Battle.
- Choose Yeah! to continue without a password, or press the Y Button to set a password for the room. (The password option requires that you create and share a 3-digit PIN with anyone who wants to join the room.)
- Use the options on the left side of the screen to adjust the stage and mode as desired.
- Once the room is created, all other players need to join the room.
- Have all participating players look for a room.
- Player 1’s name should appear on the screen. Select the name.
- If player 1 has set a PIN to join, enter the 3-digit code when prompted.
- Select Yeah! to enter player 1’s room.
- When all players are in the room, have player 1 select Ready!
- Have player 1 select a team for each character, then select Looks Good!
- Have each player select Ready! again to begin the match.
Follow our steps for using the LAN Play feature of Splatoon 3.
Play alone, or in a group of 2-4 players, to defeat waves of enemy Salmonids.
Are you playing with friends online, via local wireless or via LAN?
- From the square in Splatsville, press the X Button to bring up the menu, then select Grizzco in the Map section.
- From the square in Splatsville, press the X Button to bring up the menu, then select The Shoal in the Map section.
- One player (player 1) needs to create the room.
- Have player 1 create a room for a Salmon Run.
- Choose Yeah! to continue without a password, or press the Y Button to set a password for the room. (The password option requires that you create and share a 3-digit PIN with anyone who wants to join the room.)
- Use the options on the left side of the screen to adjust the stage and mode as desired.
- Once the room is created, all other players need to join the room.
- Have all participating players look for a room.
- Player 1’s name should appear on the screen. Select the name.
- If player 1 has set a PIN to join, enter the 3-digit code when prompted.
- Select Yeah! to enter player 1’s room.
- When all players are in the room, have player 1 select All Set!
- Have each player select Ready! to begin the match.
Follow our steps for using the LAN Play feature of Splatoon 3.